French Soldiers Regain Control in Malian Cities10 pictures

Youths celebrate with the French flag on January 29, 2013 in Ansongo, a town south of the northern Malian city of Gao, as Niger troops enter the city. Troops from Niger and Mali on january 29 entered Ansongo, which along with Gao was...More

Youths celebrate with the French flag on January 29, 2013 in Ansongo, a town south...Youths celebrate with the French flag on January 29, 2013 in Ansongo, a town south of the northern Malian city of Gao, as Niger troops enter the city. Troops from Niger and Mali on january 29 entered Ansongo, which along with Gao was recaptured by French-led soldiers over the weekend in a lightning offensive against radicals holding Mali's north. So far, just 2,000 African troops have been sent to Mali or neighboring Niger, many of them from Chad, to boost the French-led offensive which began on January 11 and led to the recapture of several towns, including Ansongo.LessMore

A French army sniper stands guard with his FR 12'7 PGM gun as he looks out from the watchtower at the airport in Timbuktu, on January 30, 2013. French troops have taken up position today at the airport in Kidal, local sources said, the...More

A French army sniper stands guard with his FR 12'7 PGM gun as he looks out from the...A French army sniper stands guard with his FR 12'7 PGM gun as he looks out from the watchtower at the airport in Timbuktu, on January 30, 2013. French troops have taken up position today at the airport in Kidal, local sources said, the third major city in northern Mali after Gao and Timbuktu.LessMore

Children read from books of psalms as part of their religious studies with a marabout in Timbuktu, on January 30, 2013. French troops have taken up position today at the airport in Kidal, local sources said, the third major city in...More

Children read from books of psalms as part of their religious studies with a...Children read from books of psalms as part of their religious studies with a marabout in Timbuktu, on January 30, 2013. French troops have taken up position today at the airport in Kidal, local sources said, the third major city in northern Mali after Gao and Timbuktu.LessMore

Residents of Timbuktu walk through the streets on January 30, 2013 after the town was retaken from Islamist groups by French and Malian forces two days ago. French troops today entered Kidal, the last Islamist bastion in Mali's north...More

Residents of Timbuktu walk through the streets on January 30, 2013 after the town...Residents of Timbuktu walk through the streets on January 30, 2013 after the town was retaken from Islamist groups by French and Malian forces two days ago. French troops today entered Kidal, the last Islamist bastion in Mali's north after a whirlwind Paris-led offensive, as France urged peace talks to douse ethnic tensions targeting Arabs and Tuaregs.
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Men stand on January 30, 2013 in front of a billboard left by the Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa (MUJAO), an offshoot of Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), during a ceremony to cleanse the northern city of Gao from...More

Men stand on January 30, 2013 in front of a billboard left by the Movement for...Men stand on January 30, 2013 in front of a billboard left by the Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa (MUJAO), an offshoot of Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), during a ceremony to cleanse the northern city of Gao from traces showing presence of Islamists. Gao was a key Islamist stronghold until it was retaken on January 26 by French and Malian troops in a major boost to the French-led offensive against the Al Qaeda-linked rebels, who have been holding Mali's vast desert north since last April. French troops on January 30 entered Kidal, the last Islamist bastion in Mali's north after a whirlwind Paris-led offensive, as France urged peace talks to douse ethnic tensions targeting Arabs and Tuaregs. Billboard reads: 'Al Hesbah, together for the pleasure of God almighty and the struggle against sins.'LessMore

Women sell rice on January 30, 2013 at a market in the northern city of Gao, a key Islamist stronghold until it was retaken on January 26 by French and Malian troops in a major boost to the French-led offensive against the Al...More

Women sell rice on January 30, 2013 at a market in the northern city of Gao, a key...Women sell rice on January 30, 2013 at a market in the northern city of Gao, a key Islamist stronghold until it was retaken on January 26 by French and Malian troops in a major boost to the French-led offensive against the Al Qaeda-linked rebels, who have been holding Mali's vast desert north since last April. French troops on January 30 entered Kidal, the last Islamist bastion in Mali's north after a whirlwind Paris-led offensive, as France urged peace talks to douse ethnic tensions targeting Arabs and Tuaregs.LessMore

Women sell rice on January 30, 2013 at a market in the northern city of Gao, a key Islamist stronghold until it was retaken on January 26 by French and Malian troops in a major boost to the French-led offensive against the Al...More

Women sell rice on January 30, 2013 at a market in the northern city of Gao, a key...Women sell rice on January 30, 2013 at a market in the northern city of Gao, a key Islamist stronghold until it was retaken on January 26 by French and Malian troops in a major boost to the French-led offensive against the Al Qaeda-linked rebels, who have been holding Mali's vast desert north since last April. French troops on January 30 entered Kidal, the last Islamist bastion in Mali's north after a whirlwind Paris-led offensive, as France urged peace talks to douse ethnic tensions targeting Arabs and Tuaregs.LessMore

Men stand on January 30, 2013 in front of a billboard left by the Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa (MUJAO), an offshoot of Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), during a ceremony to cleanse the northern city of Gao from...More

Men stand on January 30, 2013 in front of a billboard left by the Movement for...Men stand on January 30, 2013 in front of a billboard left by the Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa (MUJAO), an offshoot of Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), during a ceremony to cleanse the northern city of Gao from traces showing presence of Islamists. Gao was a key Islamist stronghold until it was retaken on January 26 by French and Malian troops in a major boost to the French-led offensive against the Al Qaeda-linked rebels, who have been holding Mali's vast desert north since last April. French troops on January 30 entered Kidal, the last Islamist bastion in Mali's north after a whirlwind Paris-led offensive, as France urged peace talks to douse ethnic tensions targeting Arabs and Tuaregs. Billboard reads: 'Al Hesbah, together for the pleasure of God almighty and the struggle against sins.'LessMore

A woman sells vegetables on January 30, 2013 on the market in the northern city of Gao, a key Islamist stronghold until it was retaken on January 26 by French and Malian troops in a major boost to the French-led offensive against the...More

A woman sells vegetables on January 30, 2013 on the market in the northern city of...A woman sells vegetables on January 30, 2013 on the market in the northern city of Gao, a key Islamist stronghold until it was retaken on January 26 by French and Malian troops in a major boost to the French-led offensive against the Al Qaeda-linked rebels, who have been holding Mali's vast desert north since last April. French troops on January 30 entered Kidal, the last Islamist bastion in Mali's north after a whirlwind Paris-led offensive, as France urged peace talks to douse ethnic tensions targeting Arabs and Tuaregs.LessMore

Women shop on January 30, 2013 at a market in the northern city of Gao, a key Islamist stronghold until it was retaken on January 26 by French and Malian troops in a major boost to the French-led offensive against the Al Qaeda-linked...More

Women shop on January 30, 2013 at a market in the northern city of Gao, a key...Women shop on January 30, 2013 at a market in the northern city of Gao, a key Islamist stronghold until it was retaken on January 26 by French and Malian troops in a major boost to the French-led offensive against the Al Qaeda-linked rebels, who have been holding Mali's vast desert north since last April. French troops on January 30 entered Kidal, the last Islamist bastion in Mali's north after a whirlwind Paris-led offensive, as France urged peace talks to douse ethnic tensions targeting Arabs and Tuaregs.LessMore